September 2021

Protect Our Care Hosts Week of Action to Advocate for Lower Costs & Better Care as Congress Closes in on Budget Agreement

Press Events, Radio Ads, Flyers, Mobile Billboards, and Chalking Demonstrate to Members of Congress the Urgent Need to Act to Lower Drug & Health Care Costs

Protect Our Care held a week of events and activities calling on Congress to deliver lower costs and better care to American families by passing all of President Biden’s health care priorities in the Build Back Better budget package. Democrats are working tirelessly to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, close the Medicaid coverage gap, expand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental and hearing, and reduce health care costs for millions of people purchasing coverage on their own. 

This week’s events made clear that all of these reforms are essential as Americans are struggling to afford the high cost of health care. And with Republicans bought and paid for by Big Pharma and other special interests, we need every Democrat to keep up the fight. Protect Our Care will continue to ensure that lawmakers understand the importance of lowering drug prices and hold those that vote against this overwhelmingly popular proposal accountable.

NATIONAL

PRESS CALL: “There’s No Room For Error”: Protect Our Care, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Hart Research Discuss the State of Play in Washington As Congress Closes In On Budget Agreement

Watch the Event Here

Hart Research’s Geoff Garin and the Center for American Progress Action Fund CEO Patrick Gaspard joined Protect Our Care to discuss the political situation in Washington as Congress works to pass budget reconciliation legislation and to present findings from a new national survey on voters’ attitudes towards the Build Back Better Act and health care. 

As Congress continues to negotiate budget legislation, Big Pharma and other special interests are ramping up their lobbying and scare tactics to protect profits and lie to the American people. The new survey makes clear that voters’ attitudes remain unswayed by these influences, and that every single one of these health care priorities are central to the bill’s success. Read the full memo here. 

Coverage:

• Axios: Democrats’ Case for Prioritizing Health Care Policies

RADIO ADS: In Rep. Schrader, Peters, and Rices’ Districts Urge Them to Do the Right Thing and Stand Up to Big Pharma for Lower Drug Prices

Listen to the Radio Ads Here

Protect Our Care announced a radio ad campaign to call out Representatives Schrader (D-OR-05), Scott Peters (D-CA-52), and Kathleen Rice (D-NY-04) for their opposition to giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans — a proposal supported by over 90% of all Americans and central to President Biden’s Build Back Better proposal. The ads, which are backed by five-figure buys in each district, will begin as early as today and will run through at least the end of next week.  

FLYERS: Protect Our Care placed fliers across the nation’s capital to support Senator Reverend Warnock’s call for closing the Medicaid coverage gap. This week, Sen. Rev. Warnock held a press conference with a bicameral group of legislators on the Medicaid gap fix.

Coverage:

• Atlanta Journal Constitution: Democrats in Congress Push Aggressive Health Care Agenda, but Costs Spur Concern

ARIZONA

State Representative Cesar Chavez, Will Humble of the Arizona Public Health Association, and Iesha Meza, an Arizonan with Type I diabetes joined Protect Our Care Arizona for an event to urge Senator Kyrsten Sinema to do the right thing, and support Democrats’ legislation to lower prescription drug costs.

The event came after Protect Our Care joined local residents on Tuesday to urge Senator Sinema to do the right thing and support legislation to bring down drug prices with a mobile billboard and chalk art outside of her Phoenix office. The mobile billboard circled Phoenix all day calling for Senator Sinema to put patients over profits and give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans.

Constituents sent a clear message to Senator Sinema outside of her Phoenix office: lower drug prices now! 

ALASKA
SEIU, Dr. Al Gross, and a local provider joined Protect Our Care Alaska for a virtual press conference to highlight how the efforts of President Biden and Democrats in Congress will lower costs and expand access to health care in Alaska and across the country.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
A group of New Hampshire residents joined Protect Our Care NH for an online forum to highlight how the efforts of the New Hampshire Delegation in Congress could lower costs and expand access to health care in New Hampshire if the Reconciliation. Expanding access to quality, affordable health care has never been more critical, as the state struggles with a pandemic, economic recovery, climate change and hospitals on the brink.

WISCONSIN
Senator Tammy Baldwin and patient advocates from across the state joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin for an event to urge Congress to take action to lower health care costs and expand access to care. “When I first ran for the Senate in 2012, I heard from hundreds of Wisconsinites who couldn’t afford their prescription drugs. Every Congress, Senator Klobuchar and I have introduced the Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act, which would allow Medicare to negotiate the best price of prescription drugs,” said Senator Baldwin. “For every other type of health care service, Medicare works to get lower prices for American seniors. But for prescription drugs – and only prescription drugs – Medicare is today prohibited by law from negotiating for the best deal for our seniors. We’re going to get rid of that limitation and give Medicare the power to lower prescription drug prices.”

Coverage:

• WBAY (ABC): Baldwin to Address Health Care Provisions (preview clip)
• WLUK (Fox): Senator Baldwin Meets with Health Care Advocates 
• WFRV (CBS): Finding Ways to Fix Health Care

**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 AT 10:00 AM ET**

TODAY: Sen. Sarah McBride and Advocates to Highlight How Historic Health Care Investments Included in Democrats’ Budget Legislation Will Impact Delawareans

Wilmington, DE — On September 24th at 10:00 AM ET, Sen. Sarah McBride and local advocates will join Protect Our Care Delaware for a virtual press event to highlight how the efforts of President Biden and Democrats in Congress will lower costs and expand access to health care in Delaware and across the country. 

Expanding access to quality, affordable health care has never been more critical. The pandemic has laid bare the high costs and alarming inequities in our health care system, and it has demonstrated that health care must be a right, not a privilege. President Biden and Democrats in Congress are fighting to make this a reality in DE, by working to include historic health care provisions in their budget reconciliation legislation. 

President Biden’s Build Back Better proposal includes driving down prescription drug prices, expanding Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, and dramatically lowering the cost of health insurance for millions.

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
State Sen. Sarah McBride
Jan White, health care advocate
Vanessa Adams, health care advocate

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Highlight How Historic Investments Included In Democrats’ Budget Legislation Will Impact Delawareans 

WHEN: Friday, September 24 at 10:00 AM ET

WHERE: Register for the Event Here

NEW: Radio Ads in Rep. Schrader, Peters, and Rices’ Districts Urge Them to Do the Right Thing and Stand Up to Big Pharma for Lower Drug Prices

Listen to the Radio Ads Here

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care announced a radio ad campaign to call out Representatives Schrader (D-OR-05), Scott Peters (D-CA-52), and Kathleen Rice (D-NY-04) for their opposition to giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices for all Americans — a proposal supported by 90% of all Americans and central to President Biden’s Build Back Better proposal.

The ads come as Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma is ramping up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. The ads make clear that lawmakers must not cower to the demands of big pharma and give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for Americans.  The ads, which are backed by five-figure buys in each district, will begin as early as today and will run through at least the end of next week.  

“Americans are fed up. They’re tired of the broken system that allows drug companies to charge them three times more for medications than people in other countries,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “They’re tired of making impossible choices between putting food on the table and affording the medications they need to survive. Most importantly, they’re tired of their representatives voting with Big Pharma and drug company CEO’s over working people. Congress is closer than ever to reining in Big Pharma’s greed, but with Republicans already bought and paid for, every Democrat needs to get on board with this overwhelmingly popular and much needed plan to bring relief to the American people.”

Script for Rep. Schrader (60s):

Families here in Oregon pay 3 times more than people in other countries for the same life-saving medicines.

It’s not right. 

94 percent of Americans want Congress to lower drug prices now. 

But where’s Congressman Kurt Schrader?

He voted to STOP Medicare from negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs. 

He’s standing with Big Pharma… Instead of patients facing high drug costs.

But that’s not all.

Lowering prescription drug prices is part of President Biden’s Build Back Better bill which includes efforts to cut taxes for working families and make healthcare coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. 

And Kurt Schrader is putting all that at risk to protect drug companies who are ripping off patients through high drug prices.

Oregon families need the Build Back Better bill – including giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.  

Call Congressman Schrader at 503-588-9100 and tell him to put patients first. Not Big Pharma’s profits.  

Paid for by Protect Our Care.

Script for Rep. Peters (60s):

Families here in California pay 3 times more than people in other countries for the same life-saving medicines.

It’s not right. 

94 percent of Americans want Congress to lower drug prices now. 

But where’s Congressman Scott Peters?

He voted to STOP Medicare from negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs. 

He’s standing with Big Pharma… Instead of patients facing high drug costs.

But that’s not all.

Lowering prescription drug prices is part of President Biden’s Build Back Better bill which includes efforts to cut taxes for working families and make healthcare coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. 

And Scott Peters is putting all that at risk to protect drug companies who are ripping off patients through high drug prices.

California families need the Build Back Better bill – including giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.  

Call Congressman Peters at 858-455-5550 and tell him to put patients first. Not Big Pharma’s profits.  Paid for by Protect Our Care.

Script for Rep. Rice (60s):

Families here in New York pay 3 times more than people in other countries for the same life-saving medicines.

It’s not right. 

94 percent of Americans want Congress to lower drug prices now. 

But where’s Congresswoman Kathleen Rice?

She voted to STOP Medicare from negotiating lower prices for prescription drugs. 

She’s standing with Big Pharma… Instead of patients facing high drug costs.

But that’s not all.

Lowering prescription drug prices is part of President Biden’s Build Back Better bill which includes efforts to cut taxes for working families and make health care coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. 

And Kathleen Rice is putting all that at risk to protect drug companies who are ripping off patients through high drug prices.

New York families need the Build Back Better bill – including giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.  

Call Congresswoman Rice at 516-739-3008 and tell her to put patients first. Not Big Pharma’s profits.  

Paid for by Protect Our Care.

Protect Our Care Urges Senator Sinema to Reverse Course and Support Medicare Negotiation for Lower Drug Prices With Mobile Billboard, Chalk Event & Virtual Press Conference

Arizona Public Health Association’s Will Humble and State Rep. Cesar Chavez Joined Protect Our Care for a Virtual Press Conference Urging Senator Sinema to Do the Right Thing and Bring Down Drug Prices for All Arizonans

Event Followed a Mobile Billboard & Chalk Event Outside of Senator Sinema’s Phoenix Office

Watch the Event Here

Phoenix, AZ — Yesterday, Will Humble of the Arizona Public Health Association and State Rep. Cesar Chavez joined local advocates and Protect Our Care Arizona for a virtual press conference calling on U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to stand up to Big Pharma and bring relief to Arizona’s seniors and families who struggle to afford their medications. This week, Senator Sinema indicated she may not support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices in upcoming budget legislation, but she has a chance to do the right thing when the final bill goes to the Senate floor. Nine out of 10 Arizona voters support allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, and nearly eight out of 10 think drug prices are unreasonable. 

The event came after Protect Our Care joined local residents on Tuesday to urge Senator Sinema to do the right thing and support legislation to bring down drug prices with a mobile billboard and chalk art outside of her Phoenix office. 

“It’s so important that we have the ability to provide low cost prescription medication to these individuals who depend on an everyday dosage,” said State Rep. Cesar Chavez. “In the state of Arizona we have some of the largest populations of individuals who depend on prescriptions on a daily basis. We are at a crossroads right now where Senator Sinema can definitely vote to lower prescription drug prices and reform a system that has been broken for far too long.”

“The effects of the high cost of medications are felt acutely here in Arizona, where over $9 billion was spent in 2019 alone on prescription drugs and over 2 million Arizonans reported they didn’t seek treatment for a health problem due to the cost,’ said Arizona Public Health Association’s Will Humble. “The bottom line is that the American people are getting ripped off.”

Iesha Meza, a young Arizonan and type 1 diabetic, told her story of struggling to afford her prescriptions: “I was forced to ration my supply of insulin –– a drug that is as vital to me as water –– just to keep myself alive. I stopped taking insulin when eating meals, and eventually stopped taking it altogether. I felt myself growing weaker and weaker each day. I could actually feel myself slowly dying,” said Meza.

The mobile billboard circled Phoenix all day calling for Senator Sinema to put patients over profits and give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices for all Americans.

Constituents sent a clear message to Senator Sinema outside of her Phoenix office: lower drug prices now! 

These events come on the heels of a new polling project showing the overwhelming, bipartisan support for drug pricing reform across Arizona. With this project and interactive map, Senator Sinema and her constituents can now find the level of backing for Medicare negotiation, opinions about pharmaceutical companies, concerns about Congress failing to act, and belief in pharma’s top arguments. The project was conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of Protect Our Care and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now.

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 AT 5:00 PM EDT // 2:00 PM MST***

TODAY: Will Humble and State Rep. Cesar Chavez Join Protect Our Care Arizona to Urge Senator Sinema to Do the Right Thing and Bring Down Drug Prices for Arizonans

9 Out Of 10 Arizona Voters Support Allowing Medicare To Negotiate; Nearly 8 Out of 10 Think Drug Prices Are Unreasonable

(Phoenix, AZ) — On Wednesday, September 22nd at 5:00 PM ET // 2:00 PM MT, Will Humble of the Arizona Public Health Association and State Representative Cesar Chavez (D-AZ-29) will join local advocates and Protect Our Care Arizona for a virtual press conference to call on U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s (D-AZ) to stand up to Big Pharma and bring relief to Arizona’s seniors and families who struggle to afford their medications. This week, Senator Sinema indicated she may not support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices in upcoming budget legislation, but she has a chance to do the right thing when the final bill goes to the Senate floor.

These actions come as Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma is ramping up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. This event will make clear that Senator Sinema must not cower to the demands of drug companies and deliver on her promises to her constituents and all Americans. 

PRESS CALL:
WHO:
Will Humble, Executive Director, Arizona Public Health Association
State Representative Cesar Chavez
Iesha Meza, Arizona Type 1 Diabetic
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Call On Sen. Sinema Do the Right Thing and Bring Down Drug Prices for Arizonans
WHEN: Wednesday, September 22nd at 2:00 PM MST // 5:00 PM EDT
WHERE: Register for the Event Here

This event comes on the heels of a mobile billboard outside Senator Sinema’s district office, as well as a new polling project showing the overwhelming, bipartisan support for this reform across Arizona. With this project and interactive map, Senator Sinema and her constituents can now find the level of backing for Medicare negotiation, opinions about pharmaceutical companies, concerns about Congress failing to act, and belief in pharma’s top arguments. The project was conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of Protect Our Care and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now.

**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 12:00 PM MST**

Protect Our Care to Urge Senator Sinema to Do the Right Thing and Bring Down Drug Prices With Mobile Billboard & Chalk Art Event with Constituents Outside of Her Phoenix Office

Roughly 9 Out of 10 Arizona Voters Support Allowing Medicare to Negotiate

Phoenix, AZ — A mobile billboard and chalk art event with constituents sponsored by Protect Our Care will appear in front of U.S. Senator Kristin Sinema’s (D-AZ) Phoenix office on Tuesday, September 21, calling on the senator to stand up to Big Pharma and bring relief to Arizona’s seniors and families who struggle to afford their medications. The mobile billboard will be circling Phoenix between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and it will join constituents as they draw a message to Senator Sinema in chalk outside of her office at 12:00 PM.

This week, Senator Sinema indicated she may not support giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices in upcoming budget legislation, but she has a chance to do the right thing when the final bill goes to the Senate floor. 

These actions come as Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are leading the charge to include Medicare negotiation and other key health care priorities in the Build Back Better package, but the fight is not over: Big Pharma is ramping up its lobbying and scare tactics to protect its profits and lie to the American people. This event will make clear that Senator Sinema must not cower to the demands of drug companies and deliver on her promises to her constituents and all Americans. 

Event Details:
WHO: Protect Our Care, Concerned Citizens
WHAT: Protect Our Care to Urge Senator Sinema to Do the Right Thing and Bring Down Drug Prices With Mobile Billboard & Chalk Outside of Her District Office
WHERE: 3333 E. Camelback Rd, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85018
WHEN: Tuesday September 21 at 12:00 PM MST

The mobile billboard outside Senator Sinema’s district office comes on the heels of a new polling project showing the overwhelming, bipartisan support for this reform across Arizona. With this project and interactive map, Senator Sinema and her constituents can now find the level of backing for Medicare negotiation, opinions about pharmaceutical companies, concerns about Congress failing to act, and belief in pharma’s top arguments. The project was conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of Protect Our Care and Patients For Affordable Drugs Now.

“There’s No Room For Error”: Protect Our Care, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Hart Research Discuss the State of Play in Washington As Congress Closes In On Budget Agreement

Speakers Discussed New Poll Showing Voters’ Unwavering Support for Build Back Better Provisions to Bring Down Health Care & Prescription Drug Costs

Watch the Event Here

Washington, DC — Today, Hart Research’s Geoff Garin and the Center for American Progress Action Fund CEO Patrick Gaspard joined Protect Our Care to discuss the political situation in Washington as Congress works to pass budget reconciliation legislation and to present findings from a new national survey on voters’ attitudes towards the Build Back Better Act and health care. 

Congress is closing in on a budget agreement that will transform the lives of American families nationwide. President Biden and Democrats are fighting tirelessly to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, close the Medicaid coverage gap, expand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental and hearing, and reduce health care costs for millions of people purchasing coverage on their own. However, the fight is not over: Big Pharma and other special interests are ramping up their lobbying and scare tactics to protect profits and lie to the American people. The new survey makes clear that voters’ attitudes remain unswayed by these influences, and that every single one of these health care priorities are central to the bill’s success. Read the full memo here. 

“We’re at the precipice of a historic opportunity to build on the ACA. According to The Commonwealth Fund and The Urban Institute, the Build Back Better Agenda will cut the number of uninsured in this country by 7 million. Rates of uninsured Americans will drop in every state, and families’ will save $8.8 billion in premiums,” said Center for American Progress Action Fund CEO Patrick Gaspard. “Right now there’s no room for error. Democrats have the thinnest of majorities in the House and the Senate, and if we can’t pass a series of reforms that have broad, bipartisan support across the whole country, Americans are likely to remember that come election day.”

“The health care provisions are the most important priorities for the Build Back Better legislation’s support,” said Hart Research President Geoff Garin. “Lowering health care and drug costs for families and seniors are in the highest ranks of what voters care about for this bill and are central to the appeal of what is already a very popular proposal.” 

“The future of this country depends on bold action to bring down costs and strengthen health care for the American people,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “As Big Pharma and other special interests are spending millions to protect their profits and defend the broken system, voters remain unswayed in their support for Congress to lower health care and prescription drug costs. Patients are demanding relief, and poll after poll makes clear that any lawmaker standing in the way of reform is turning their back on their constituents and will pay the price at the ballot box. Our message to lawmakers is: don’t back down now.”